Conceptual and legal framework of Russia's policy in the area of economic integration in the CIS in the 1990s

The article is devoted to problems of formation and implementation of integration policy of Russia in the perspective of development of economic integration processes in the CIS in the post-Soviet period. The purpose and objectives of the study involve identifying the main stages of its evolution, caused by a change in the conceptual orientations and strategic priorities of the Russian Federation, in the direction of the transition from the concept of «reintegration» to the concept of «foreign policy pragmatism». The factors of initiation and the essential characteristics of integration projects at the regional and subregional levels are identified. The study is based on the analysis of regulatory and other sources of domestic and international legal nature. The main importance was the methods of comparison, system and historical analysis, political diagnostics, formal legal method. The results of the research showed that many of the integration agreements concluded by the CIS member states in the economic sphere have not been adapted to objective opportunities, the political elites are not ready for serious concessions and the introduction of supranationality. The points of view and positions proposed by Russian authors (T. Valovaya, N. Ziyadullaev, Y. Shishkov, etc.) in relation to the problems and prospects of economic integration within the CIS and in other formats. Its own estimates of the general direction of transformation of Russia’s integration policy and integration processes in the context of internal and external conditions are formulated. The main conclusion is to recognize the need to develop adequate integration mechanisms, taking into account the specifics of the situation, the structure of interests of actors and agents of integration processes and the experience of other associations, without blind copying and «transferring» to the Commonwealth soil.